Zambia

I lived in Zambia throughout 1991 and went back twice on holiday. I am still in love with the country, the people and the bush. Mammals were pretty sparse over much of the place, but national parks like Northern Kafue and South Luangwa are world class.

Wet season, South Luangwa

In the early 1990s at least, the emphasis in the parks was on more expensive safari camps and fewer people than in some other bits of the continent. As a result it was not uncommon to spend several hours on morning, evening and night safaris and not see another vehicle. Life was a perpetual adventure there.

Car ferry, Kasanka

I haven’t been there since 1993 and things are bound to have changed, hopefully for the better. But so far as I can tell although the country has enjoyed considerable economic development, the safari experience remains as wild as it ever was.

Black Lechwe, Kobus leche smithemani, Bangwelu

Bangwelu Swamps

Two nights August 1993. Not a fantastic spot for mammals, but an interesting place more famous for its Shoebill Storks. Walking across the floating matted vegetation was an experience: like walking on a water bed except every so often I would tread on a weak spot and my leg would disappear down to my thigh. I saw Southern Reedbuck, Black Lechwe, Topi (Tsessebe) and Oribi.

Shoebill Camp, Bangwelu.

I also drove my buddy’s Landcruiser off the causeway and got it stuck in the swamp which caused considerable difficulty for a few hours and a frosty evening with my girlfriend. But I thought I saw a rat swimming in the swamp and got distracted.

Kasanka

Several days in January 1992 and August 1993. Not much in the way of larger mammals, but with excellent Sitatunga viewing, and a spectacular fruit bat camp each Christmas when a million or so Straw-coloured Fruit Bats take up residence in the forest.

Northern Kafue (Mufupwa lodge)

Three nights July 91. An excellent area for finding some of the more unusual mammals in Zambia. The guys at the lodge – in 1991 at least – burnt a good deal of the grass around the place which helped the spotlighting no end. This is one of the few places in Zambia where Aardvark are often reported. Not – I hate to say – by me.

Southern Kafue

A few days during Easter 91. A disappointing trip to Southen Kafue, though it was the worse time of year for game viewing. The end of the wet season means animals are dispersed and the grass is long. That said, I still saw Chacma Baboon, Southern Reedbuck,Burchell’s Zebra Warthog, African Buffalo, Savanna Hare, Puku,Waterbuck, Smith’s Bush Squirrel, Hippo, Malbrouk (formerly Vervet) Monkey, Blue Wildebeest, Rock Hyrax, Impala.

South Luangwa

Trips in October 91, December 92 and August 93 – a glorious national park, with few visitors and one hell of a lot of wildlife. Rightly famous for its Leopards, it has a wide collection of interesting wildlife, including some nice mongoose species, and abundant Four-toed Elephant Shews.

Four-toed Elephant Shrew, Petrodromus tetradactylus, South Luangwa

During the 15 or so nights I’ve spent in the park I’ve see Giraffe (the Thornicroft subspecies), Angolan (Large spotted) Genet, Yellow Baboon, Leopard (five different sightings in one night!),